Sudan 2-2 Angola

Updated: Thursday, 26 Jan 2012 21:42

Mohamed Bashir is congratulated by his Sudan team-mates after scoring in Malabo

Sudan twice fought back from a goal down against Angola to claim their first point of this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohamed Bashir's brace - Sudan's first goals in the tournament since 1976 - cancelled out two goals from in-form Angola striker Manucho as the spoils were shared in an entertaining Group B clash in Malabo.

The result leaves Sudan with one point having lost their opening game to Ivory Coast 1-0 while Angola move onto four points having beaten Burkina Faso 2-1 in their first outing.

Manucho scored a brilliant winner in that match and he needed just five minutes of today's encounter to get back on the scoresheet following a bad defensive error by Najem Abdullah.

The Sudan centre-back allowed himself to be robbed by Manucho when he was last man and the former Manchester United man progressed into the area before drilling an unstoppable shot past Akram El Hadi just inside the far post.

That was the ideal start for Angola but Sudan battled back and, after going close in the 17th minute when Muhannad Tahir's long-range drive drew a parry out of Carlos, they drew level in the 33rd minute through Bashir

Eltaib Mudather curled in a fine cross from the right and Bashir climbed between Angola defenders Marcos Airosa and Francisco Zuela to send a glancing header inside the far post.That ended Sudan's long wait for an African Nations Cup goal having failed to find the back of the net in 2008 - their only appearance in the finals since 1976.

The 1970 winners almost found themselves trailing again four minutes later though when Djalma got in behind the Sudan defence and dinked the ball over El Hadi, but Saifeldin Ali managed to get back in time to clear the ball.

Sudan were not so fortunate four minutes into the second half, however, as Angola did manage to restore their lead from the penalty spot.

Djalma was brought down by the outstretched leg of Hamid Nazar inside the area and Manucho fired the resulting penalty low past El Hadi.

But once again Angola could not hang onto their lead as another defensive mistake led to Sudan drawing level in the 74th minute.

Substitute Jose Vunguidica inexplicably chested down a Sudan cross inside his own area instead of trying to clear, and Bashir latched onto the loose ball to slam home his second goal of the game into the roof of the net.

Bashir had a chance to record his hat-trick three minutes later but his low shot was kicked behind at his near post by Alberto.

Alberto then saved a low curling effort from Abd Alrahman at the second attempt as Sudan sought a winner.

However, they could not find another breakthrough and Angola might have snatched the points themselves with an audacious effort from Manucho in the 87th minute, but his shot from halfway went over and the points were shared.